Former Police Inspector David Gatt would be eligible for a €137,500 payout if he wins a civil court case for arrears after a judge ruled he was unfairly dismissed in 2001.
Dr Gatt, who graduated as a lawyer after leaving the police, was arrested last December and charged with involvement in major crimes. At the start of criminal proceedings against him, prosecutors said he used to describe himself as the infamous Mafia boss of bosses Toto Riina and had given other convicted criminals within his alleged gang Mafia nicknames.
He is pleading not guilty to being involved in the theft of more than €1 million from a Balzan bank in 2007, the failed heist on HSBC’s operations centre in Qormi that ended in a shootout with the police in June last year, the failed attempt to break into a security van carrying about €2.8 million in cash last year and the attempted robbery of a jeweller in Attard in December.
During the compilation of evidence yesterday, court appointed expert Anthony Cutajar, who was nominated to draw up an inventory of Dr Gatt’s assets, presented a report to Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona.
Defence lawyer Joseph Giglio, asked Dr Cutajar whether he had asked the Police Commissioner how much Dr Gatt was owed in arrears after he was unfairly dismissed from the force in 2001. The witness said he was told by the Police Commissioner that Dr Gatt was owed nothing. He also said that, if the accused was owed anything, that would be determined by a court because civil proceedings were ongoing.
Dr Cutajar said he then asked for a clarification about the amount owed in the eventuality that the court ruled that Dr Gatt should be reinstated as a police officer following the unfair dismissal. He said he was told the sum would run up to €137,500.
Dr Giglio asked for a variation in the bail conditions imposed on Dr Gatt. The court upheld the request and the curfew was shortened by two hours. It now takes effect at midnight instead of 10 p.m.
At this point, in a light hearted moment, Dr Giglio told the magistrate his client should now be known as Cinderella rather than boss of bosses, a comment that elicited a chuckle from members of the public who were following the proceedings.
The case continues.
Lawyer Edward Gatt also appeared for Dr Gatt.